Coal/Utilities

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Overdue Energy Efficiency Standards Costing
U.S. Billions

Despite his rhetoric about climate change, President Obama’s Administration continues to delay implementation of energy efficiency standards for appliances and equipment that are among the most successful ways to quickly cut energy consumption and contribute to economic growth.

18Feb2013 | | 0 comments | Continued
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New Grid Strategy in West Welcome News According to Wind Industry

The California power grid operator and PacifiCorp creation of “Energy Imbalance Market” in the Western U.S. will use computer technology to exchange electricity at five-minute intervals, instead of by telephone every hour as was formerly the case.

12Feb2013 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Solar Industry Grapples with Hazardous Wastes

Fueled partly by billions in government incentives, the industry is creating millions of solar panels each year and, in the process, millions of pounds of polluted sludge and contaminated water. To dispose of the material,
the companies must transport it by truck or rail far from
their own plants to waste facilities often far away.

12Feb2013 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Wyoming Considers Groundwater Testing Mandate

The governor’s office is looking into possibly requiring oil and gas companies drilling in the state to test the local groundwater for any pollution before they sink a drill bit into the ground. Colorado recently established new groundwater testing regulations that could provide a template.

5Feb2013 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Search Continues for WOGCC Director – Legislature Could Make it Easier for Applicants

Now the state is considering a change that could make it easier, possibly, for applicants to “make the grade” by loosening up one of the job’s requirements. Specifically, a bill headed for introduction in the Legislature would eliminate the requirement that the supervisor be a registered petroleum geologist or petroleum engineer.

14Jan2013 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Report Shows Coal, Natural Gas Remain Key Sources
of Energy

The Worldwatch Institute in Washington reports that global consumption of coal increased 5.4 percent in 2011, to 3.72 billion tons of oil equivalent, while natural gas use grew 2.2 percent, to 2.91 billion tons of oil equivalent.

7Jan2013 | | 0 comments | Continued
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GOP Blames EPA For Coal Sector Losses But New Study Tags Gas Prices

Republican candidates are stepping up their campaigns blaming EPA and its rules for contractions in the coal sector, a key employer in many swing states, despite recent findings showing that low natural gas prices are more likely to blame for the job losses than EPA rules.

21Oct2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Comparing Solar and Oil and Gas Development on Public Lands: A Tale of Two Processes

Interior Department’s approval of utility scale solar development stands in sharp contrast to the approach it has taken for oil and gas leasing.

15Oct2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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CO2 Emissions Decline in West

Descending from the Pollution Plateau: Why Carbon Dioxide Emissions are Declining in the Mountain West and How to Keep it that Way comes on the heels of a study by the U.S. Department of Energy showing CO2 emissions in the United States at their lowest level since 1992.

29Aug2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Federal Review of Proposed $3B Power Line Delayed

A detailed federal review of a proposed $3 billion power line that would run through Wyoming, Utah, Colorado and Nevada and deliver power to the Southwest will be delayed about six months, a Bureau of Land Management spokeswoman said.

5Aug2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Plans Stutter for Wyoming Waste-to-Energy Power Plants

Officials said Thursday that talks of a waste-to-energy plant near Riverton previously pursued by Dynamis Energy have stopped completely over concerns whether the project would be financially feasible. Two other proposed plants — one in Cheyenne, another in Guernsey — still appear to be in the works, but some have their doubts about whether either of
the plants will get built.

30Jul2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Feds Settle Western Energy Corridor Lawsuit

At issue are more than 6,000 miles of corridors for power lines; oil, natural-gas and hydrogen pipelines; and other energy-distribution systems that were carved out by the Bush administration as part of the 2005 Energy Policy Act.

6Jul2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Report Calls for More Flexibility From EPA

The Electric Power Research Institute study says that providing electric utilities with flexibility in installing new pollution control technology to comply with current and pending EPA regulations could save approximately $100 billion in future expenditures.

4Jun2012 | | 0 comments | Continued
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Home Grown: Land Use Plannning Evolves and Adapts in Unlikely Corner of Wyoming

The county is solidly Republican and you’ll never hear a syllable of disregard concerning guns or property rights from any politician. However, when challenges arise, the county doesn’t seem to have much trouble asking for advice, even if it comes from, you know, the outside.

19Mar2012 | | 0 comments | Continued